Feb. 22, 2009

Box Score

Chris Dunkin collected four hits, while Brian Taylor and Brent Harris each hit a 2-run home run in the decisive fifth inning to lift Lamar to a 13-10 victory over Austin Peay and a sweep of the four-game series at Vincent-Beck Stadium Sunday.

Lamar (4-0) won its fourth-consecutive game to start the season, marking the tenth time in 45 years of the program for that to occur. Austin Peay dropped to 0-4.

After Austin Peay scored two in the top of the first, Lamar answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning and one in the third to stake a 7-2 lead. The Governors came back in the top of the fourth with six of their own as they claimed an 8-7 lead, which Lamar promptly evened up a half-inning later.

The Cardinals pushed five runs across in the fifth thanks to a pair of pinch-hit base hits, which included a bloop single by Wade Mathis to start the inning and Harris' shot over the fence in right-center. Tyler Link followed with a single to center and after stealing second, scored on Taylor homer to right field which gave Lamar an 12-8 cushion.

Austin Peay plated single runs in the sixth and ninth but the Cardinal bullpen allowed just five hits over the final 5.1 innings. The staff also registered five of their ten strikeouts in the final nine outs.

Garrett Steward (1-0) earned his first career victory after working 1.1 innings of relief in the fifth and sixth frames. Kevin Angelle started for Lamar and struck out five in 3.2 innings, while allowing three earned runs on five hits.

David Vicini (0-2) suffered the loss for the Governors when he allowed four runs on five hits in one-third of an inning.

Offensively, Dunkin drove in four and scored twice. Joey Latulippe and Jeremiah Sammy each had two hits for Lamar.

Lamar will return to the diamond for a midweek series with Siena, beginning Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Vincent-Beck Stadium. The teams will also play on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.